Women's football: Belles miss out on chance to build on positive Leeds result as weather wins out
Doncaster Rovers Belles missed out on the chance to build on an impressive midweek draw with Leeds United when their proposed Sunday game at Blackburn Rovers was called off.
Belles had climbed out of the relegation places in the FA Women’s National League Division One North following Wednesday’s hard-fought 1-1 home draw against Leeds.
Sadly, a waterlogged pitch at Clitheroe put paid to their hopes of building on that on Sunday. The decision to postpone the game came around half an hour before the scheduled kick-off, while both teams were warming up.
Abi Coley netted the equaliser for Belles against Leeds a few minutes after she came on as a substitute after Leeds had broken the deadlock early in the second half.
Next up for Belles is a home game against Cheadle Town Stingers - the former club of Belles manager Dylan Wimbury – this Sunday (March 22). He guided Cheadle to a hat trick of 3-0 victories over Belles, who have become much more resilient since his appointment several weeks ago.
Based on the current fixture list, the Blackburn versus Belles game is likely to be re-scheduled for April 19 - a date on which neither team currently has a game. Belles have games scheduled for all the other Sundays up until the season’s final round of fixtures on April 26.
* Rossington Main lost 6-4 on their North East Regional League Southern Division visit to Sheffield Wednesday. Lauren Breen bagged a hat-trick with Sarah Black also on target.
Brodsworth Welfare, having strengthened their squad several weeks ago, have climbed the Sheffield & Hallamshire Women’s & Girls County League Division Two table rapidly since losing to leaders Barnsley FC Ladies.
Brodsworth have reeled off five straight wins, scoring 25 times without reply to move into fifth spot, ahead of SJR Worksop Development whom they beat 4-0 thanks to braces from Holly Bytheway and Jill Edmonds. They are now just four points adrift of third place with a game in hand and a top three finish is certainly a strong possibility, but it would probably require maximum points from their remaining eight games to dislodge Brinsworth Whitehill from the runners up spot.